Brief Biography Of Kit Carson: Indian Army

Richel Tapia

21 July 2013

Kit Carson

New Mexico History

Down in New Mexico, Kit Carson is known for a lot of things. For example, he is known for having a very eventful life. His history of his life is just one big adventure, even before he became a legend. He’s known for being a trapper and a guide. He is also known for being an Indian Agent and a soldier. As he grew older while on his big adventure, he was getting tired and just want to go home to his wife. Kit Carson’s name is actually Christopher Carson. He was born in Madison County, Kentucky, on Christmas Eve of 1809. It is told that his father, Lindsey Carson, fought in the American Revolution, which was from 1775-1783, a war which the American colonies fought
From around 1828 and 1840, Carson used Taos as a base camp for many fur-trapping expeditions throughout the mountains of the West, from California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Rocky Mountains (Weiser). Carson learned the ins and outs of trapping. He became one of the famed mountain men, who lived and worked in the wilderness. In 1829, Carson joined with Ewing Young to trap in Arizona and California. He also worked for Jim Bridger and the Hudson Bay Company at different times as well (“Kit Carson”). Along the way, Carson learned to speak Spanish, French and several Native American languages (“Kit Carson”). It is told that around 1831 Carson returned to New Mexico, where he immediately joined up with the experienced trapper, Thomas Fitzpatrick (“Kit Carson Biography”). With Fitzpatrick’s men, Carson headed up north into the rugged central Rocky Mountains. For the next ten years, Carson worked as a trapper all over western America in what is today known as Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. During this time spent in the wilderness of North America, Caron learned everything he needed to know in order to become a respected guide (“Kit Carson Biography”). Kathy Weiser writes in the article “New Mexico Legends,” as the case with many white trappers, Carson become somewhat integrated into the Indian world; traveling and living extensively among Indians (Weiser). Stated in the
Carson would serve in the war, playing an important part in the conquest of California (Weiser). While in California, Fremont’s mission changed into a military operation. Carson and Fremont helped support an uprising by American settlers in the area, and Carson was then sent to Washington D.C., by Fremont to deliver the news of their victory (“Kit Carson”). Carson also led the forces of U.S. General Stephen Kearney from Socorro, New Mexico into California, when a Californio band led by Andres Pico mounted a challenge to American occupation of Los Angeles later that year (Weiser). Weiser also wrong that on December 6, 1846, Mexicans at San Pasqual attacked those forces, about 30 miles north of San Diego. On the third night of this battle, Carson and two others snuck through enemy lines and ran the entire distance of San Diego, where they brought help for Kearny’s pinned-down forces. At the end of the war, Carson returned to New Mexico and took up ranching (Weiser). It is written in the article “Kit Carson Biography,” that by 1849 Carson had settled near Taos to far and did occasional scouting for army units fighting hostile tribes. Carson also served in the Office of Indian Affairs, first as an agent and then as a superintendent of Indian affairs for the Colorado Territory. In 1854, Carson became the agent